Ageing and the Transition to Retirement

Tony Maltby is Senior Lecturer in Social Policy at the Institute of Applied Social Studies at the University of Birmingham, UK; Bert De Vroom is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Twente, The Netherlands; Maria Luisa Mirabile works for IRES (Economic and Social Research Institute) in Rome, Italy; and Einar Øverbye is Senior Researcher for NOVA (Norwegian Social Research) in Oslo, Norway.

• Contents: Introduction, Bert de Vroom, Tony Maltby, Maria Luisa Mirabile and Einar Øverbye; Age-arrangements, age-culture and social citizenship: a conceptual framework for an institutional and social analysis, Bert de Vroom; Norway: still high employment among older workers, Per Erik Solem and Einar Øverbye; Ageing and work: from 'early' exit to 'late' exit in Denmark, Per H. Jensen; From early exit culture to the policy of active ageing: the case of Finland, Raija Gould and Laura Saurama; Early retirement in Germany, Christina Teipen and Martin Kohli; The shift from early to late exit: changing institutional conditions and individual preferences: the case of the Netherlands, Bert de Vroom; Belgium: from early to progressive retirement?, Laura Merla; France: a country with a deep early exit culture, Anne-Marie Guillemard and Dominique Argoud; A 'new deal' for older workers in the United Kingdom?, Philip Taylor; Ageing and the labour market in Hungary, Zsuzsa Széman; The older population in the labour market in Slovenia: situation and policies, Dorotea VerÅ¡a; Ageing and work in Italy, Maria Luisa Mirabile; Ageing and work in Spain: the end of working life?, Anabel Suso Araico; Conclusions, Maria Luisa Mirabile; Index.

’The editors and contributors are to be commended for producing a book which, in addition to providing a wealth of detailed information on twelve different countries, also manages, unlike so many supposedly comparative works, to draw out important comparisons and Europe-wide trends. The result is an important contribution on a centrally-important economic and social policy issue for Europe in the coming decades.’ Rob Sykes, Sheffield Hallam University, UK ’Across Europe governments are attempting to respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by ageing populations and workforces, while striving to reverse declining employment rates among older workers. This accessibly written compilation provides an invaluable guide to current debates and initiatives in a range of European countries. Offering new, comparative insights into one of the most pressing contemporary policy dilemmas, it should be of interest to anyone concerned about the future contours of people’s working lives and citizenship rights.’ Dr Margaret May, London Metropolitan University, UK ’...this book certainly addresses a topic of immediate interest for welfare state researchers and policy makers alike.’ Social Policy ’The national case studies offer a comprehensive and interesting analysis of the broad range of policy issues surrounding the early exit path in very different political and socioeconomic contexts.’ Transfer ’...this fascinating collection of papers on transitions to retirement in 12 European Union countries...[provides] many important perspectives on current European approaches to retirement transitions...’ Ageing and Society ’...[a] welcome addition to the literature covering issues of interest to older people and the professionals and carers who work with them...a well-written and researched edited collection...offer[s] important insights into a difficult and constantly shifting arena...makes[s] important contributions to the study of older people